"It has always been our goal to establish trusted relationships with the management and owners of our client firms. The basis for these relationships is quality, error-free work completed in a timely manner. We draw on our experience and other resources to provide planning, analysis, review and insights into our clients’ businesses, people and processes to enhance their operations."

Steve Gross
Founding Partner

Stephen R Gross, CPA, CVA, CFE

Steve Gross is a founding organizer of HLB Gross Collins, P.C. He was previously a Regional Managing Partner, National Director of Business Consulting and a member of the Executive Committee of a national accounting firm. An Atlanta native, Steve graduated from Duke University with a major in management sciences. He attended graduate school at Georgia State University, majoring in accounting.

Steve has taught strategic business planning, executive development, real estate finance, tax planning, corporate finance and financial controls to CPAs throughout Georgia. He has also been a national speaker and trainer on these subjects.

Specialized Experience

Steve has consulted, audited or assisted in exit events with hundreds of companies throughout the United States and Western Europe. His involvement has assisted management teams in growing, governing and merging or selling of companies to many major international groups.

Directorships and Business Affiliations

Steve has served on the board of directors of many public and private companies for more than 17 years. Past directorships have included:

Mutual Fund Family for American General Life
Mutual Fund Family for American Capital
Mutual Fund Family for Van Kampen American Capital
Mutual Fund Family for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Mutual Fund Family for Citigroup Smith Barney
WebMD, Inc.
Charter Bank & Trust
ebank Financial Services, Inc.
Hank Aaron Enterprises, Inc.
Carint North America, PLC

Professional Memberships and Awards

Steve is a licensed CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Valuation Analyst. He is a member of the state and national CPA societies and former chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Atlanta Chapter of the GSCPA. He is a member of the Institute of Business Appraisers, the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Current Public Directorships

Mutual Fund Family of Legg Mason Partners
Chairman, Audit Committee, Designated Financial Expert

Current Boards of Directors or Advisors

The North Highland Group, Board of Advisors
Board of Directors, FSR/Tennessee Affordable Housing Foundation
VP—National Association of Corporate Directors, Atlanta Chapter
Board of Directors, Golden Key International Honour Society
Board of Governors, Ravinia Club
Executive Director, Business Builders Team, LLC

Community Involvement

Steve is a former board member of the Henry Grady Hospital Foundation. He is a former treasurer of Friends of Max Cleland, U.S. Senator. He is also the Bailli of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Atlanta, an International fine wine and food society, a member of the Cherokee Town and Country Club, a founding member of the Georgian Club, and Reynolds Plantation Club. Steve is married with two children.